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  Ultrasound diagnostic apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20060241435Title: Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that can move a display screen for an ultrasound image to a position from which the display screen is easy to see. An image display device is supported by an image display device supporting mechanism so as to be horizontally movable and vertically movable and so as to be capable of changing the tilt angle of the display screen of the image display device. A neck member is brought into contact with a stopper member and a lower end of a rod is inserted into a cutout, whereby the image display device is locked at the tilt angle in which the display screen faces downward. A stopper member and a guide member are brought into contact with each other, thereby restricting the downward movement of the image display device. (end of abstract)
Agent: Patrick W. Rasche Armstrong Teasdale LLP - St. Louis, MO, US Inventors: Yumiko Koga, Takekazu Osada, Kazuhiko Hayakawa USPTO Applicaton #: 20060241435 - Class: 600437000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Diagnostic Testing, Detecting Nuclear, Electromagnetic, Or Ultrasonic Radiation, Ultrasonic The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060241435. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit of Japanese Application No. 2005-113034 filed Apr. 11, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and more particularly to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that can move a display screen of an ultrasound image to a position from which the image is easy to be seen. [0003] There has been known an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus wherein a liquid crystal display device is mounted to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body by a hinge (e.g., see Patent Reference 1). [0004] [Patent Reference] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-272739 [0005] In the above-mentioned conventional ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, the liquid crystal display device is raised to display an ultrasound image when it is used, while the liquid crystal display device is thrown down when not used, so that it can be easy to be carried. [0006] However, it has a problem that the liquid crystal display device cannot be moved in the horizontal direction or vertical direction to move the display screen to a position from which the display screen is easy to be seen. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that can move a display screen for an ultrasound diagnostic image to a position from which the display screen is easy to be seen. [0008] In the first aspect, the invention provides an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body performing a control of an ultrasound probe or a formation of an ultrasound image; an image display device that displays the ultrasound image; and an image display device supporting mechanism that supports the image display device to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body, wherein the image display device supporting mechanism supports the image display device so as to be horizontally movable and vertically movable and so as to be capable of changing the tilt angle of a display screen of the image display device, as well as is capable of supporting the image display device in a state where the image display device is thrown down with the display screen facing downward, and the image display device supporting mechanism comprises tilt lock means for locking the tilt angle of the display screen in the state where the image display device is thrown down with the display screen facing downward, and movable range restricting means for restricting a horizontally movable range and a vertically movable range in accordance with the horizontal position and the vertical position of the image display device. [0009] According to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in the first aspect, the image display device is supported, via the image display device supporting mechanism, to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body so as to be horizontally movable and vertically movable and so as to be capable of changing the tilt angle of the display screen of the image display device, thereby being capable of moving the display screen for the ultrasound diagnostic image to a position and posture by which the display screen is easy to be seen. Further, the image display device is thrown down and the tilt angle of the display screen is locked, when not used, whereby it becomes easy to be carried. Moreover, the horizontally movable range and the vertically movable range are restricted according to the horizontal position and the vertical position of the image display device, thereby being capable of avoiding the interference between the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body and the image display device. [0010] In the second aspect, the present invention provides an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body performing a control of an ultrasound probe or a formation of an ultrasound image; an image display device that displays the ultrasound image; and an image display device supporting mechanism that supports the image display device to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body, wherein the image display device supporting mechanism supports the image display device so as to be horizontally movable and vertically movable and so as to be capable of changing the tilt angle of a display screen of the image display device, as well as is capable of supporting the image display device in a state where the image display device is thrown down with the display screen facing downward. [0011] According to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in the second aspect, the image display device is supported, via the image display device supporting mechanism, to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body so as to be horizontally movable and vertically movable and so as to be capable of changing the tilt angle of the display screen of the image display device, thereby being capable of moving the display screen for the ultrasound diagnostic image to a position and posture by which the display screen is easy to be seen. Further, the image display device can be thrown down when not used, whereby it becomes easy to be carried. [0012] In the third aspect, the present invention provides, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the first and second aspects, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising tilt lock means for locking the tilt angle of the display screen in the state where the image display device is thrown down with the display screen facing downward. [0013] According to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in the third aspect, the tilt angle of the display screen is locked with the image display device thrown down, when not used, whereby it becomes easy to be carried. [0014] In the fourth aspect, the present invention provides, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus wherein the image display device supporting mechanism has horizontal movement lock means for locking the horizontal position of the image display device when the tilt angle is locked by the tilt lock means. [0015] According to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in the fourth aspect, the horizontal movement of the image display device can also be locked when the tilt angle of the display screen is locked with the image display device thrown down, whereby it becomes easy to be carried. [0016] In the fifth aspect, the present invention provides, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to the fourth aspect, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus wherein the horizontal movement lock means returns the image display device to the horizontal position when the lock of the tilt angle by the tilt lock means is released and the image display device is raised such that the display screen faces frontward. [0017] According to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in the fifth aspect, when the liquid crystal display device is raised when used, the lock of the horizontal movement of the image display device is released with this, whereby the image display device can be horizontally moved to a position from which the image display device is easy to be seen. [0018] In the sixth aspect, the present invention provides, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus wherein the lock of the tilt angle by the tilt lock means is possible only in the state where the image display device is at a specific horizontal position. [0019] According to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in the sixth aspect, the tilt angle can be locked when the image display device is located at the specific, easy-to-carry, horizontal position. [0020] In the seventh aspect, the present invention provides, in the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus wherein the image display device supporting mechanism has a rotary section that is rotatable in the horizontal direction with respect to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body, an arm section having a first end side supported by the rotary section and a second end side that can be pivoted in the upward and downward directions with the first end side as a support and a neck section having one end supported by the second end side of the arm section and the other end side that can be pivoted in the upward and downward directions with the one end side as a support, the image display device being supported to the other end side. [0021] According to the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus in the seventh aspect, the horizontal movement is possible at the rotary section, the vertical movement is possible at the arm section, and the change of the tilt angle of the display screen is possible at the neck section. Continue reading... Full patent description for Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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